Tag Archives: Landscaping

Tips for Good Garden Design and Landscaping

Good creative skills are essential for the specialised fields of garden design and landscaping. Consequently, it is important to have a comprehensive understanding of the industry and be able to apply acquired skills in a theoretical and practical manner. Lifestyle Learning Direct., one of the Gold Coast’s premier online learning and correspondence course providers, suggests that in order to be a good garden designer or landscaper you need to be able to:

1. Evaluate a design project, have a clear understanding of a designer’s role, and be able to conduct a meeting with a client.

2. Be knowledgeable about the historical influences on modern garden design.

3. Be able to identify the various ‘hard’ components of landscaping and design, such as garden structures and walls, fences and gates.

4. Have a good general knowledge about soils and plants, and other landscaping products such as compost, gravel, sleepers, pavers, cement, sand, rock and slate, and so on.

5. Be familiar with the pricing structure of various landscaping supplies.

6. Have had practical experience in several areas of landscape design and its allied industries, such as nurseries and landscaping supply yards.

7. Have an awareness of different styles of gardens, as well as lighting and water features and the various types of surfacing materials available for use in garden design.

8. Be knowledgeable about earthworks involved in landscaping and garden design.

9. Have a broad knowledge on the basics of starting a business, business plans, market analysis and ongoing management.

How can you become a better Garden Designer and Landscaper?

To gain professional garden design and landscaping proficiency, it is best to undertake a specialised course that teaches you the essential skills. Lifestyle Learning Direct. is a leader in the provision of writing distance education courses that aim to give students a broad understanding of the industry competency regarding both the theoretical and practical application of this knowledge.

Apart from understanding the application of good garden design ideas and landscaping elements and principles, you need to be conversant with other necessary components such as earthworks, marking out and job costing, as well as basic drawing skills and client/designer communication. As a result, you should develop the ability to apply this knowledge in a broad variety of situations, as well as recognise and correct all manner of design errors.

If you dream of being your own boss, as well as the theory of garden design and landscaping you also need to know the practical aspects of how to set up in business.

For more information in relation to garden design and landscaping, please contact Lifestyle Learning Direct.

Related Blogs

Solar Yard Lights: Good For The Planet And Your Budget!

Alternative energy sources such as solar lighting are not only environmentally friendly, but inexpensive and convenient if you have any technical problems. Using these lights can benefit a wide range of people, even if they did not previously consider using solar powered outdoor lighting in their yard or around their home.

Landscape lights are used to add beauty to yards and make them more pleasant and easy to enjoy, but they are also used for visibility and safety. Lighting in yards or attached to the building exterior can discourage intruders, but most often it makes walkways and driveways more visible and safe by simple illumination. Lighting can also highlight garden features such as statuary, fountains and special plantings.

There are many advantages that come from lighting your yard with solar powered lights. The most obvious is that every bit of electricity required to light your yard will add to your electric bill, and solar-powered lights consume no electricity. Many years ago, expensive solar lights redeemed themselves over several years by saving homeowners money. Now, however, solar-powered lights are no more expensive than conventional electric lights. Once your solar light is installed, you will never pay another cent to use it until it is time for the light to be replaced.

Another advantage of lights that use solar power is that they are simple to use, without any hassle. Once you choose a site that gets ample sunlight, attach your light or sink a pole and support and you’re finished, unless the light comes with a switch. Solar lights collect energy throughout the day and store it in batteries. They do not require any wiring. Traditional lighting, on the other hand, requires carefully hidden and protected wiring, and sometimes even needs to be installed by an electrician.

Before installing solar yard lights, check with a landscape expert or your solar lighting retailer to learn how to assess a location for suitability. The lighting must be installed in a site that receives an adequate amount of sunlight in order to properly charge the batteries. If installed in an area that is in complete shade all day the lights may not work. Finding an acceptable site is easier due to improvements in batteries, other storage devices and solar cells. It is likely that these improvements will continue allowing solar yard lights to be installed in additional areas.

Another area of concern is how long a fully charged light will function, and how much time you will leave the lights on every evening. Lights are rated by these criteria; look them over carefully and decide which one best suits your needs. There are many online resources that can help you in this search. Take advantage of these and comparison shop when looking for solar yard lights. Some examples of places you may look are department stores. Lots of solar lights are available in department store chains at great markdowns. It’s easy to find inexpensive solar lights that can make your yard shine!

Learn more about Residential Solar Energy and Solar Yard Lighting.

Related Blogs